By TXMMA Staff | Interview by Emil Fischer
Corpus Christi based flyweight travels far to prepare for another big challenge at Legacy FC 31
Given his choice of fights recently, Elias “Smash” Garcia is certain to be that latter type of fighter.
Having taken on the toughest test of his young career, resulting in a decision loss to Henry Cejudo, Elias is coming back for more. He will be taking the US Olympian’s place next week against Damacio Page in the Legacy FC 31 co-main event. Cejudo pulled out due to personal reasons but Elias has personal reasons of his own, to push the envelope and test himself that is. It will be his second high-profile fight in a row and first against a UFC veteran. With the potential for a second loss in a row it’s a high-risk matchup for him, but the reward is also high. And so he’s willing to chance it. He’s not looking on luck to get him through though. Elias has been doing a lot of hard work.
“Duke Roufus (read: Roufusport, home of UFC featherweight champion Anthony Pettis, Ben Asrken, etc.) was kind enough to open up his gym to me and let me train with his guys so I’m out here now. These guys are all phenomenal and are keeping me on top of my game.”
By training at both Roufusport and his home gym in Corpus Christi (Weapons at Hand), Elias Garcia is hoping to alleviate some of the mistakes that cost him his last fight against Cejudo and redeem himself against Page.
“I’ve been working a lot on my ground game as well as being more technical in the stand up. My fight with Henry was going well that first round; I was getting back to my feet and starting to get in my groove. The very first punch of the second round is when I completely broke my hand and changed the game. I couldn’t close my right hand for wrist control or anything so that played a huge factor. Yeah you can’t really prepare for stuff like that just hope it doesn’t happen but I can train on all the other things. I would love a KO but I’ll take the win any way I can get it. I will utilize a lot of footwork, a lot of angles, and let my strikes go to make openings for myself. Honestly I believe he may have a power advantage but not too much. I believe I will have the speed and technical advantage. I give him the wrestling advantage but I give myself the jits advantage. I know the majority of Damacio’s losses have come via submission. Fighting a guy like Damacio though you can’t just try to stand or try to just go to the ground; I believe to beat him I’m going to have to make this a MMA fight and take it everywhere to create my opportunities. That’s what I plan on doing.”
Go big or go home.
Fighter Acknowledgements
I would also like to send a shout out to Rabalais Electric, Pure Line Nutrition, AWI, Dunne Electric, Trey Lopez at 110 Premium Training Plus, Hughes Hangar, and Smoothie King, and SWOLLE fitness apparel for their continuous support! Also Weapons at Hand, Full Contact Fight Academy, and Roufusport! Last but not least my wife for helping me out; especially prepping my meals! Thank you again and thanks to all my supporters!